1⁄48Bell P-400 Airacobra
6
Comments
About the Kit
This is the P-400 from Eduard. The assembly is without much difficulty, the only point posing problem being the thickness of the trailing edges. I tried to refine them by sanding the interior but it was not sufficient. They should certainly be refined on the outside as well, but this would have implied to re-engrave some panel lines which I didn't wanted to do. For the cockpit, I have used some photo etched instrument panels from another "Profipack" box of the same kit.Selected decoration is the plane N°13 “Hells Bells” of 67th FS based in Guadacanal during the second half of 1942. The decals came from an Aeromaster sheet. The camouflage was done with Revell aquacolor paint and the weathering was done with oil-based paints.
Some history
When P-400s of the 67th squadron arrived at Guadacanal, the pilots quickly realized that they were unusable in the fighter role. The P400 being a version of the P39 intended for the RAF, these were equipped with English oxygen bootles whish the American didn't had at Guadalcanal. P-400 were consequently limited at an altitude of 14.000 feet whereas the japs flew between 15.000 and 17.000 feet. P400 were always in position of disadvantage in combat and the Wildcat of the Navy had to help them on several occasions.After having analyzed the armament of the P-400, Major Général Vandegrift, assigned the aircraft to close air support. Indeed it proved to be very effective in this role, using its capacity of carrying a bomb to attack the Japanese debarkation beaches and the fact that its 20mm cannon could sink the ennemy barges. Because of the particularly difficult conditions at Guadalcanal and the constant harassing of the Japanese from the airs and from the sea, the 67th squadron soon had only four machines left at its disposal and only one had all it's armament still functioning.
Comments
Hallo Geoffroy
very nice model! ... as I already told you some weeks ago ..... looking forward to your nxt project!
all the best
Steffen
OCT 09, 2009 - 10:06 PM
Well done, Geoffroy! I envy you for your "Pacific Theatre Garden" to make these great photos. Maybe I see the Cobra live next weekend in Merchweiler???
Torsten
OCT 10, 2009 - 10:48 PM
I love it !!
In the last photo there is a "wildcat"
Can you show us the whole diorama??
Cheers Nick
OCT 11, 2009 - 09:30 AM
Maybe the last pix are of (a part of) Jean-Luc's Alëutian Diorama ... BTW hows that one progressing?
cheers
Steffen
OCT 11, 2009 - 09:36 AM
The last pictures were taken on an other diorama which in fact looks more like Guadalcanal than the other one because of the earth color.
Here is a picture with the Guadalcanal based Wildcat on this black earth diorama :
OCT 11, 2009 - 10:21 AM
Copyright ©2021 by Geoffroy Toillié. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely the views and opinions of the authors and/or contributors to this Web site and do not necessarily represent the views and/or opinions of AeroScale, KitMaker Network, or Silver Star Enterrpises. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved. Originally published on: 2009-10-10 00:00:00. Unique Reads: 10189